self search​make it about a personal journey

I haven’t thought much about this until today, but when I’m writing an email there is an icon that pops up at the bottom of the page that indicates the message has been saved. The email doesn’t have to have a recipient, or subject; it’s just an automatic action. Then if I don’t send it, it is saved to a draft file - no instructions necessary. This can be convenient for many reasons, especially when you’ve taken time to meticulously word and craft a message, but it may not always be in your best interest. Personally, I haven’t taken time to meticulously word, or carefully craft anything lately. My thoughts and feelings have been right on the surface and most are carelessly tossed, and even hurled around. Many have been openly expressed, but with others there is a conspicuous inward clamoring and knocking around.

According to Webopedia the technical definition for SAVE is “to copy data from a temporary area to a more permanent storage medium.” The definition continues with much detailed information that I am not including here. At the end it states that “many applications automatically save files at regular intervals, which you can specify.”

Of course, email stands for electronic mail. Using email as an analogy for thoughts and inner dialogues is not far reaching. An article entitled, The Nuts and Bolts of Thought, from Leibniz-Institute in Berlin, Germany states, “Sensations and thoughts arise from the transmission of electrochemical signals through the nervous system.” In short, thoughts are another form of Email – electrochemical mail.

Keeping this in mind and returning to the SAVE situation, the idea of a more permanent storage medium makes me nervous. Do I really want my inner turmoil saved and “more permanently stored?” Not hardly. Most of my recent cluttered inner chatter has been self-indulgent and bordered on self-pity. OK, it was self-pity. I understand it’s not productive, but at times you just have to let yourself be unhappy, especially when there appears to be so much valid reasoning to back it up.

However, today was the day to turn things around; especially when I considered the idea that I might be stockpiling depressing thoughts permanently. With this new awareness, I began to be mindful of my thoughts throughout the day. I questioned myself; do I want to permanently save this thought? If so, mentally highlight, save. Then I began noticing certain scenes as I took a walk – Canada geese with their goslings. Highlight, save. The fragrances from the spring flowers were wonderfully noticeable. Highlight, save. Housework. Delete. A smile. Highlight, save.

I can only imagine what I have archived through the years without being aware, but that’s another topic for another day. Highlight, save.

SELF Search

We access the computer more readily than we do ourselves. LOG OFFis primarily about examining personal, authentic thoughts, ideas, and emotions - something a search engine can't do. This is what I'm exploring in the SELF Search Blog. Join me.